Week 2 Quarterbacks: Waiver Wire Pickups & Adds

September 9, 2014

Nathan Calderon analyzes Week 2 fantasy football quarterbacks (QB) - waiver wire pickups, adds and sleepers for both PPR and non-PPR leagues. NFL quarterbacks are a key component.

What’s up guys? I hope you had a solid Week One for your fantasy unit. From here on in, you can look to all of our writers to help set your team for success week by week via articles like this one. Today I’m going to give you guys some heads-up insight into your Week Two matchups at the QB position. Let’s get started.

Editor’s Note: be sure to bookmark our awesome fantasy football waiver wire pickups list, which is a daily updated list of waiver wire adds and players to pickup for all NFL positions.

Fantasy Football Quarterbacks (QB)

Jake Locker  (QB, TEN) - 27% owned in Fleaflicker

Week 2 Opponent: Dallas Cowboys

BALLER MOVE: Worth a start in two-QB leagues for sure, and worth snagging on the wire before someone else does.

ANALYSIS: The Dallas Cowboys defense played exactly how most people anticipated. They were... well, bad. The 49ers dominated Dallas the entire game, especially in the first half. There weren't many positives for Dallas in this one, as four turnovers in the first half made it easy for Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco offense squad to score.

In KC, the Tennessee Titans played a great football game. The Titans D also picked up some slack, forcing Alex Smith into three interceptions, which Locker and the offense capitalized on. Locker threw for 266 yards on 22 completions and hooked up with Kendall Wright and Delanie Walker for two touchdown passes.

He had great footwork and was not afraid to take off running when needed. Locker had a solid showing against a questionable KC defense last week, and you can look for him to continue that trend next week against a similarly disastrous Dallas unit.

Josh McCown (QB, TB) - 32% owned in Fleaflicker

Week 2 Opponent: St. Louis Rams

BALLER MOVE: Could be a potential QB1 this week against a Rams defense that has some serious issues. Look to possibly start McCown in most one-quarterback standard leagues.

ANALYSIS: Yes, Josh McCown played a somewhat mediocre season opener. His 183-yard, two-touchdown, two-interception performance was not exactly the start many expected out of the former backup to Jay Cutler. McCown went 22-for-35, averaging a measly 5.23 YPR.

What many haven't given McCown credit for is that he was able to compose himself and play decent football after a poor first half against a dominant Carolina Panthers defense. The St. Louis Rams defense isn’t nearly as effective, nor do they have the type of secondary that can shut down the big targets that McCown has to throw to in Tampa.

McCown will have not only the pass game working for him, but the Rams also struggled to stop the run against the Vikings in Week One. The Rams gave up 170 yards and two touchdowns through the air, and 188 combined yards on the ground, as well as a touchdown on a 67-yard sprint from Cordarrelle Patterson.

McCown didn’t really pick up where he left off last season in Week One, but I expect him to explode in Week Two against a mediocre defense that gave up 34 points at home last week.

Andy Dalton (QB, CIN) - 83% owned in Fleaflicker

Week 2 Opponent: Atlanta Falcons (Only started in 15% of leagues last week)

BALLER MOVE: Dalton looks to be a solid play in Week Two against a Falcons defense that struggled to stop the pass in Week One. If he's available on waivers, take him. If he isn't your starter in Week Two, consider it if you own him.

ANALYSIS: In Week One, Andy Dalton and the Bengals showed the NFL that they are definitely a contender this season. While posting only one touchdown, Cincinnati dominated most facets of the game, and bullied the Baltimore Ravens in Week One. Dalton threw for 301 yards and one touchdown in the performance, with four different receivers over 35 yards receiving.

Even with that diversification, Dalton was still able to find his number one receiver AJ Green for 131 yards on the day, with most of those yards coming on a 77-yard touchdown reception. This ability to spread the ball while still finding Green for big plays is going to benefit Dalton next week against a Falcons defense that just came off of dealing with the passing attack of Drew Brees and the Saints in Week One.

Both defenses in the season opener in the Georgia Dome looked poor, as both Matt Ryan and Drew Brees threw the ball all over the field, combining for a staggering total of 781 yards through the air. Brees often threw towards the rookie Brandin Cooks, as Jimmy Graham was in double coverage for a majority of the afternoon. Though Cooks looked great in his opener, he lacks some of the field experience that some of the wideouts and the tight end have over in Cincinnati.

The committee wide receiving system could really benefit the Bengals in Week Two, especially considering the strength of the Bengals defense to keep the shootout factor low. The only downside to this matchup is the deep ball. The Falcons safeties played very well and shut down most of the deep balls thrown by Brees in Week One. Dalton is lined up for a solid start in Week Two, and is definitely worth a start in two-QB leagues with some of the matchups next week.

Ryan Tannehill (QB, MIA) - 49% owned in Fleaflicker

Week 2 Opponent: Oakland Raiders

BALLER MOVE: Worth starting in two-QB leagues as a high-end QB2, very low-end QB1 this week.

ANALYSIS: Ryan Tannehill had to work very hard to get Mike Wallace the ball. With coverage from Darrelle Revis, Wallace often found it difficult to make plays. That didn't stop Tannehill from getting him the ball, nor did it stop him from throwing for 182 yards and two touchdowns on 18 receptions.

Though his accuracy was not completely on point in this one, Tannehill proved to me that he can beat coverage from one of the best in the game, as well as drive the ball down the field. In his matchup against Oakland this week, look for Tannehill’s accuracy to be tested. It should pay off, as Tannehill has more targets that can run shorter routes than the Jets did in Week One.

Tannehill likes to throw the short ball anyway, and the blitz-heavy scheme that Oakland displayed against Geno Smith should actually benefit him. The secondary in Oakland headlined by Charles Woodson is not nearly as quick or hard to beat as Darrelle Revis and the Pats secondary, so look for Tannehill to capitalize.